Applebee’s Waitress Fired for Posting No Tip Receipt Left by Cheapskate Pastor

Thursday, January 31, 2013

An Applebee’s waitress is out of a job for publicly humiliating a cheapskate pastor who refused to leave her a tip.

Pastor Alois Bell apologized to her congregation and called it a “lapse in my character and judgment” to write, “I give God 10% Why do you get 18” on her receipt after dining at a St. Louis Applebees.

Applebees is one of many national restaurant chains that adds a mandatory gratuity to every receipt. Pastor Bell took exception to the mandatory gratuity and left no tip at all.

Her waitress, Chelsea Welch, was so put off by the pastor’s rude attitude that she posted a copy of the receipt on Reddit.com, a high traffic website. The photo of the receipt quickly racked up hundreds of angry comments from Redditers.

“I originally posted the note as a lighthearted joke,” Chelsea Welch told Consumerist. “I thought the note was insulting, but it was also comical. I posted it to Reddit because I thought other users would find it entertaining.”

Pastor Bell complained to Applebees which terminated Chelsea’s employment. The reason: the receipt that Chelsea posted on Reddit included Bell’s signature, outing Bell to her congregation and the world.

Bell was forced to humble herself before her parishioners for bringing “embarrassment to my church and ministry.”

But Chelsea remains unapologetic for outing the pastor.

“Because this person got embarrassed that their selfishness was made public,” she said, “Applebee’s has made it clear that they would rather lose a dedicated employee than lose an angry customer. That’s a policy I can’t understand,” said Chelsea.

So the pastor got upset because she was in the wrong?? Ok. Just checking. God still know’s what you do behind closed dark doors, this just happened to come into the light. I’ll bet she will tip from now on though!!

100% usa made!

That’s crazy to fire the waitress! The customer should be put on blast! Practice what you preaching Pastor!!

http://santanasantana.wix.com/artist San

Just because others posting everything doesn’t mean there’s not ramifications for actions. She didn’t have to post her signature. Pastor shld hve still left some type of tip on her part. Silly billys

Leslie

This is exactly why I tip 18% to 20% at all times!
Wait staff work very hard and should be compensated. That Pastor should be ashamed!

LSLH

That’s what my son says. He’s a waiter for guess who? Applebee’s! He complains about how little the patrons tip. The pastor should be very embarrassed. I always tip, even at Sonic’s. Chelsea should file a lawsuit against Applebee’s. It’s not like she outed the pastor in front of the whole restaurant while she was there. I swear some folks have no heart. And she calls herself a ‘pastor.’

renegadesince1985

“Applebees is one of many national restaurant chains that adds a mandatory gratuity to every receipt.”

Actually…from what I heard on the news, it was a large party. At most restaurants a party of 6 sometimes 8 or more, will have gratuity added into their bill. For smaller parties it’s not usually mandatory. Servers get paid like $2.25 an hour so they LIVE off tips… If you can’t afford to tip STAY YOUR AZZ AT HOME!

KrayZKat

I tip 20% even when I take food out EXCEPT when I get bad service. I’m not tipping anyone who doesn’t deserve it. That’s like rewarding them for not doing their job. I do, however, tell them why I’m not leaving a tip.

KrayZKat

Correction: I don’t tip 20% with take out orders, but I do tip nevertheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

Leslie says: This is exactly why I tip 18% to 20% at all times!
Wait staff work very hard and should be compensated. That Pastor should be ashamed!

__________________________ & LONG POST AHEAD!

This is a PASTOR behaving like this?? This flippant, ignunt response?! What if her congregation told her to get her salary from God?? She SHOULD be embarrased…I know God is because she’s supposed to be representing him.

I used to be a hostess @ Bennigans when I lived in H-Town. And when I tell you that the waitstaff used to literally HIDE from Black customers…you’d best believe it. Both yt AND Black waitstaff.

Blk folks would me in and run up a $75-$80 tabs (or more)…and leave $1 or $2 on tha table??! And this…after running the wait person ragged for “more ketchup, more lemons, more bread…my french fries are cold..” yada yada! I’d get sooo friggin annoyed!

We once had a yt guy that I BEGGED to serve a table of 3 sistas. They acted as if he had no other tables…just KEPT stopping him for things they could’ve very well asked for the last time they summonded him over. But he was BEYOND gracious. They stayed at that table for HOURS…and when they finally left…his tip was a whopping $1.50!! (and the 50 cents wasn’t even 2 quaters…it was like nickles and pennies!!). Well….he followed them out to the parking lot and said “C’mon ladies…was my service THAT bad??”

Those 3 women started cussin him out…they stormed back inside the resturant and complained, cursed, etc…and the poor man lost his job on the spot! I have never felt so bad and so guilty at the same time.

Sooooo Jeff….if you’re out there…I apolgize still!!

Unshakable

@topic:

It never ceases to amaze me how some people think they’re entitled to treat people any kind of way, especially in retail/customer service/food&hospitality services. I have been a waitress/retail associate before and I promise you even the White folk were treated like slaves. And to add insult to injury, this pastor decided to hide behind the guise of “God.” Like, for real? If you didn’t want to tip 18%, you should have thought about that before you fed your face.

Lesson learned: True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive. – Mignon McLaughlin

http://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

@ mzwhang90210: That was funny even though it wasn’t meant to be. Fast food restaurants were made for people who don’t tip.

http://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

@ renegadesince1985: I don’t doubt your word, but every upscale restaurant that I dine at — alone or with a friend — adds a gratuity to my bill even though I tip generously. Let me find out it’s because I’m black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

*correction to my post #11…should’ve read “Black folks would COME in”

OAN…I still tip a full gratuity even if the service is LOUSY. I then find the mgr on duty and complain. Why would I tip a wait person for substandard service? Welllll…because at alot of establishments..the waitstaff has to pool all of their tips at the end of the night…and tip out the bus boys, servers, etc. They ALL share the tips that you leave. So why make THOSE people suffer because of 1 waitperson? Besides…your NOT tipping is more than likely not going to make that person a better waitress/er. All they have to do is tell the mgr that they provided you with exceptional service..and that it wasn’t THEIR fault that you were a cheapskate. However..if you both tip AND go to the mgr…its more effective IMO!

@Naija – Girl, I wasn’t logged in to respond. I have to post in between work…..to answer your question my lovely, my derriere is toned. I have an athletic shape. I know I’m posting this late, but I didn’t forget about you!

Who Dat

That pastor coulda gave that girl a tip.

She aint spending no money on clothes; that outfit looking like she shop at her local Rainbow. Fashion Cents. Its Fashion…

And that mammy made raggely bun indicates she not spending much on her hair neither.

She had an extra $5…smdh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

@ Unshake… that quote!!

@Sandra ur right too…if u can’t afford the CORRECT tip…stay at home…or order take out.

KrayZKat

mzwhang90210

Let me clear one fact up, I’m far from being a cheapskate. In fact, I tip better than some white people I know.

However, I will agree with the rest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

@Unshake…thats Bo’s jumpoff..she gotta stay SHARB!

@ Kdub

LSLH

Hey unshakable!

tintin1979

I asked a white waitress to be honest with me and tell me which race tips the worse, and she said black females. Worse when they’re in groups. She said black men are pretty nice tipsters. I’ve always tipped fairly because I was once a waitress and yes our black people tipped the worse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

KrayZKat says:

mzwhang90210

Let me clear one fact up, I’m far from being a cheapskate. In fact, I tip better than some white people I know.

However, I will agree with the rest.
____________________
Gotcha…and I didn’t mean to imply that you WERE/ARE a cheapskate.

What I was tryin to convey is…that’s the excuse the wait person can use if the mgr asked why he/she didn’t get a tip from your table. They can tell all kinda lies on you and you’re gone already …so who is goin to say otherwise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

tintin1979 says:

I asked a white waitress to be honest with me and tell me which race tips the worse, and she said black females. Worse when they’re in groups. She said black men are pretty nice tipsters. I’ve always tipped fairly because I was once a waitress and yes our black people tipped the worse
____________________
Sad to say but yup!

Sandra Rose says: @ renegadesince1985: I don’t doubt your word, but every upscale restaurant that I dine at — alone or with a friend — adds a gratuity to my bill even though I tip generously. Let me find out it’s because I’m black.

Who Dat

I tip better than some white people I know

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have a white homeboy who used to lunch with us from time to time. Worked in bldg next to ours. And once I had to get change in order to leave a tip…he was rushin me “come on Dub lets go, we gonna be late going back”. I told him I gotta tip, you know what they say about us black folks and tips and jabbed him jokingly. He was like no; what do folks say? Umm we supposedly not good tippers. We go and run up huge bills and leave a small tip or NO tip at all is the myth.

Homie: Well my daddy must be black then all these years. We went out last week for my sister 40th bday…the bill was $160…he left $4. Yeah my dad is FOR SURE a brotha in that case. HE AINT NEVER tipped good. WHEN I SAY I DIED

KrayZKat

Gotcha…and I didn’t mean to imply that you WERE/ARE a cheapskate.

What I was tryin to convey is…that’s the excuse the wait person can use if the mgr asked why he/she didn’t get a tip from your table. They can tell all kinda lies on you and you’re gone already …so who is goin to say otherwise?
****************************** Point taken.

http://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

Who Dat says:

Homie: Well my daddy must be black then all these years. We went out last week for my sister 40th bday…the bill was $160…he left $4. Yeah my dad is FOR SURE a brotha in that case. HE AINT NEVER tipped good. WHEN I SAY I DIED
_________________

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

Actually…from what I heard on the news, it was a large party.
_____________________________________
A “large” party…but the bill total was only $34.93?

http://facebook.com/kimecca Kimberly99

Pastor Bell’s FAT ASS needs to be at home eating broiled Salmon and fruit instead of eating Applebee’s and not leaving a tip. Cheap!

KrayZKat

I have a white homeboy who used to lunch with us from time to time. Worked in bldg next to ours. And once I had to get change in order to leave a tip…he was rushin me “come on Dub lets go, we gonna be late going back”. I told him I gotta tip, you know what they say about us black folks and tips and jabbed him jokingly. He was like no; what do folks say? Umm we supposedly not good tippers. We go and run up huge bills and leave a small tip or NO tip at all is the myth.

Homie: Well my daddy must be black then all these years. We went out last week for my sister 40th bday…the bill was $160…he left $4. Yeah my dad is FOR SURE a brotha in that case. HE AINT NEVER tipped good. WHEN I SAY I DIED
********************************* Thank you for that laugh, Who Dat! Great story.

Who Dat

He one of them white boys too that is always worried about being offensive. But he MEANT that ish that day. He said it without thinking or abandon. His white daddy the worse tipper he personally know

goat76

mzwhang90210 says:
We once had a yt guy that I BEGGED to serve a table of 3 sistas. They acted as if he had no other tables…just KEPT stopping him for things they could’ve very well asked for the last time they summonded him over. But he was BEYOND gracious. They stayed at that table for HOURS…and when they finally left…his tip was a whopping $1.50!! (and the 50 cents wasn’t even 2 quaters…it was like nickles and pennies!!). Well….he followed them out to the parking lot and said “C’mon ladies…was my service THAT bad??”
Those 3 women started cussin him out…they stormed back inside the resturant and complained, cursed, etc…and the poor man lost his job on the spot! I have never felt so bad and so guilty at the same time.
Sooooo Jeff….if you’re out there…I apolgize still!!

————–
See dis? Dis dat nigah shat.

Black Folks don’t act like this. We need to teach all people the difference. Can’t be bunching us good Black Folks wit da bad apples.

Unshakable

@MzWhang,

Guhl, Bo Diddly ain’t ready for all ‘lat! Have him humpin her on the lawn of the White House!

All I know is if you eat out with me please be prepared to tip! Ion have time for no one to spit or pee in my food I’m just saying, and The pastor was dead wrong. This is that waitress job. People live off those damn tips I think its a shame. Better that pastor getting her damn love offering

goat76

Sandra, I know you’ve seen the Metro Mall security guy on the news. They’re asking why he’s doing what he is doing.

“Do What Your Suppose To Do Or Get What’s Coming To You”
The girl he tased and another girl got charged with some charges too.

Unshakable

I remember one day when I was waitressing, this lady came up to us and gave me and the other 2 hostesses $20 a piece. She said you guys are just so nice and friendly….I love seeing you guys. The irony? She didn’t even order any food.

There was this one lady who ordered some food. Now mind you, she was one of those, “I’m entitled to take all day” types. Mind you, it’s a line behind her. After she placed her order, I told her I would bring it to her.

Next thing I know, I’m grabbing things for her (condiments, extra napkins, etc.) while taking other orders. After she was through, she complimented my service and gave me……get ready for this…..a whole $0.05…..as in a nickel. Before I could catch myself, I gave her the <——really Beyonce stankface. And to add insult to injury, she was right proud of that nickel. No ma'am! I would have rather had a Scooby Snack.

Mz.Whang and TinTin79 – I'll let you guess the race of the two women in my vignette.

Goat plenty of bad apples though when I worked at Barnacles, blacks were the worst tippers real talk but there were some bad yt tippers too Bottom line tip folks right. I usually tip over 18% but if you a sorry server and one of them ones that think oh she ain’t tipping ish, you only get 18! My thing is if you can’t afford to tip don’t eat out, order to go. I even tip in carry out too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kpizSCmzA mzwhang90210

@Unshake
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…I sat back down to TWO great laffs from you! *wipes tears* Lawd!

goat76

jeniefrumdabloc says:

Goat plenty of bad apples though when I worked at Barnacles, blacks were the worst tippers real talk but there were some bad yt tippers too Bottom line tip folks right. I usually tip over 18% but if you a sorry server and one of them ones that think oh she ain’t tipping ish, you only get 18! My thing is if you can’t afford to tip don’t eat out, order to go. I even tip in carry out too
—————————-
I feel you 100 Jeni

Just to reiterate so everybody know:
Them niggahs, that ain’t black folks. It’s a difference.

Unshakable

@MzWhang,

Color Purple Style:

Guhl, guhl, guhl!! I declare!! Bo gon’ tell Upper Crust like this:

Bo: I done fixed dat doghouse so I can tell if it be messed wit! Understand?

Upper Crust: Arf

Anna Mae Bullock Style:

Bo: Take the bone, Uppa Crust…..take the bone.

Uppa Crust: *Murmurs demurely* No, Ike…I don’t want to.

Bo: See the White dog ask you to bite and you bite all day. I just asked the same thang, and you tell me no.

This is exactly why I do not give my money to churches but to charities that are important to me. She was dead wrong for that.

Just so everyone knows. The party was like 20 people. To avoid paying the 18% gratuity the pastor thought She was gonna be slick and ask for separate checks to avoid paying even though she was covering the whole bill. Hence the $34 you see above. The system automatically STILL added it to each check. I’m guessing that annoyed her.

This is also why everytime I go out to eat I tip 20-25% no matter what. And I refuse to go out with people who don’t believe in tipping. These people work hard and live off tips and if your service is decent then I see no reason why you wouldn’t want to. I also know that most servers see a black guy coming and want to avoid so I LOOOOOVEE to see their face when they have an outstanding tip. I figure I’m helping the next black person that sits down to eat get better service as well. Lol. Pay it forward.

Allwaysajoy

@Unshake that was hella funny! Made me come out of lurk mode!!!

http://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

goat76 says:

Sandra, I know you’ve seen the Metro Mall security guy on the news.
___________________

No, but I heard about him.

http://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

jeniefrumdabloc says:

All I know is if you eat out with me please be prepared to tip! Ion have time for no one to spit or pee in my food
_________________

I usually leave a good tip even if the service is poor because you never know what that waiter’s situation is at home. But if the waiter/waitress has a stank attitude, I shut that down before my food arrives at my table. I always ask for another waitress. I don’t have time for the stank attitudes.

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Unshake….I was about to shut it down for the nite but I just HAD to come back and tell u….you LITERALLY have me ova here in TEARS @ #40….OMG I ain’t laffed that long in a LONGGGGGGGG time. OMG….wheww thank you!!

@MrOz and thanks for the clarification!

Victoria

Here in CA they are getting min wage plus tips…if my service is mediocre I’m not tipping well. I tip according to service. When I’m given great service I tip well. If I get mediocre service your tip will reflect that. I do a lot more for ppl in my profession than bringing them food and condiments…where’s my tip? Are we tipping teachers, they are def underpaid. Out in Hollywood, West LA these servers are making more untaxed then some of our educators…sorry I don’t feel the social pressure to tip, but I tip well when service warrants. They don’t like it go get another job. Tipping in other countries is frowned upon…so it’s not the global standard for dining out.

Unshakable

MzWhang,

Guhl, guhl, guhl…all I habs to say is dis:

When the praises go up, the blessings come down! The Bible says that a merry heart doeth good like medicine. I figure we deal with enough calamity on a daily basis, so I likes to spice it up a lil bit and show you my shimmy, Shug Avery style. Then again, it might be the sugar water talkin! *leans over and whispers in my Shug Avery voice* Mz. Whang, I thanks you beautiful.

@Bren – Hi my lovely!! How you be? I’m glad God fixed what you’re going thru. If we ever needed the Lord before, we shole do need Him now. In addition to what God is doing for you, allow me to minister to your spirit:

*Clicks red heels 3x* “There’s no one like Bren, there’s no one like Bren” Aww…..Ms. Brendren, I feels like sangin!!

heartland

. Servers get paid like $2.25 an hour so they LIVE off tips…
======================
Wait what????!! Where do you live??? Minimum wage in San Francisco is $10.24 an hour!!! My little cousin is a waitress and gets fat tips.. She drives a brand new convertible BMW and vacations like every month! She has a college degree but makes way more serving food, can’t be mad at that

AirForceGirl

heartland says:

. Servers get paid like $2.25 an hour so they LIVE off tips…
======================
Wait what????!! Where do you live??? Minimum wage in San Francisco is $10.24 an hour!!! My little cousin is a waitress and gets fat tips.. She drives a brand new convertible BMW and vacations like every month! She has a college degree but makes way more serving food, can’t be mad at that

_________________________

San Francisco is an EXPENSIVE place to live…I know the BAH rate for military is about 3k a month…so I know the cost of living is SKY high. Most waiters/waitresses don’t even make minimum wage, so the tips are very important to their livelihoods. I always make it a point to get out my tip calculator and do the 18% as a minimum. Then if the total is uneven, i always round up just to have a nice even number ($23.45 would become $25)–its the little things.

As for Sandra saying:

“I always ask for another waitress. I don’t have time for the stank attitudes”.

It would probably be best to ask to move to another table. The way the tables are numbered/assigned to the wait persons makes it difficult to accommodate you if you are not in their area of responsibility. That’s why we are sometimes asked to wait for a table when there are SEVERAL tables open. Just a thought… # helpful

kettajp

Yes, this pastor should be embarrassed for her actions and the comment she left on the receipt. And on top of all that, she signed the receipt “Pastor Alois Bell” ……Alois Bell would have been enough!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRsEXGXLlYM&feature=fvsr ALBoy

Kett yea if she was gone show ot she should have left pastor out. If pastor wasnt on the reciept this isnt a story period.

TToles

Sorry she lost her job, but I’m TOO happy she outed her. On top of that, she left NO tip.

ms_no-no

People that work in the service industry such as delivery drivers, waitresses and waiters deserve to be tipped handsomely. They have to make a living like we all do and when patrons tip using their debit or credit card, that money is taxed and the employee may never even see it in their check, and some places even have a policy where they are required to SHARE their tips which is why I always make sure to tip my server with CASH and I give it directly to them. They are on their feet over 8 hours a day to earn a living.

Pastor Bell SHOULD have left the lady a tip and if she can apologize to her congregation then she needs to apologize to the young lady for being cheap. When you break it down, 18 – 20% on a bill that is about $40.00 is NOT a lot of money; about what? $8.00??? Come on now!!! Pastor Bell SHOULD be ashamed. If she hadn’t been put on blast she wouldn’t have owned up to it!!!!

robin

I remember reading somewhere that the easiest way to determine the minimum amount to leave for a tip was to just double the tax on the bill and round up. Well I was doing that for years, until my daughter told me that we were undertipping. OMG I was mortified and from that day forward I have overcompensated when I tip out. I calculated 20% as minimum and if I call for a delivery, and dude comes by on his bike, I damn near give him/her the equivalent of the cost of my takeout. This pastor was foul.

AllNYC

This pastor thought she was being funny and now the joke’s on her. She’s an embarrassment.
If the 18% rate was at issue, why didn’t she leave her holy 10% at least? This cheapskate was looking for an excuse not to leave a tip.
Leaving a gratuity is part of the dining experience. If you can’t afford it, then choke down another church dinner and don’t go to Applebee’s.

http://www.twitter.com/missbl0ndee SunnyK

Maybe she didnt do a good job! I hat those mandatory tip! If i have a sh^tty Waitress IM def not trynna tip you!

Desi

So she couldn’t leave her the $6.29 tip. Because they already totaled it for her which she crossed out. Your mad over 7 bucks?? Large party my ass. She should be ashamed of herself!!

FreN8tion

Victoria says:

if my service is mediocre I’m not tipping well. I tip according to service. When I’m given great service I tip well. If I get mediocre service your tip will reflect that. …sorry I don’t feel the social pressure to tip, but I tip well when service warrants. They don’t like it go get another job. Tipping in other countries is frowned upon…so it’s not the global standard for dining out.

libra80sbaby

Applebee’s trippin like a mf yo. The preacher was dead wrong. That note on the receipt was ratchet as all hail and unnecessary. Whether you like it or not, you WILL be charged that gratuity Pastuh! Amen

MSVALLDAY

Well first of all the receipt is the property of the store, and does contain sensitive information (in this case a name). All kinds of businesses have policies against releasing information relating to patrons, clients of whatever. So the employee was wrong, and violated company policy! Two wrongs don’t make a right. Now, as for the pastor, she didn’t need to leave the comment. If you felt the tip amount was to large there are better ways of handling this, and she should always remember she represents Christ. The Christ I serve is loving and forgiving, even if you have a problem with service you forgive and love and leave a dang on tip!

http://twitter.com/#!/Birdshu Bird

I HATE built in gratuities. I am a great tipper. In fact I feel guilty when I don’t have cash and have to tip on my card. But I want the choice. If the service is not good you ain’t getting my standard 20% tip. If the service is great you are getting more. But I’m giving you cash so you ain’t got to worry about taxes being taken out. Pastor is probably too poor to be eating out and she’s dang sure too fat. She has kids and she needs to be cooking instead of going to Applebees every Sunday after church. Still the waitress who posted the receipt deserved to be fired. First of all she is not even the person that served the “good” pastor so she was being a busy body. But most importantly she put the restaurant at risk by broadcasting the pastor’s name/signature.

http://facebook.com/kendra.knowles Kendra Knowles

Believe it or not.. I have waited on quite a few pastors and a few athletes when I waitressed on the side… you’d be surprised how little if any they tip, but quick to ask if i wanted their autograph! pfff

MsChocoTe

The 18% was just a suggestion, because if it was mandatory she still owes Applebees. So she was not charged extra, she was just being a cheapskate, that should have been outed. Then to add insult to injury she gets the lady fire. She foul and needs prayer – she’s shephard for the devil.

trenee

wow….i don’t think she should have been fired for what she did.

I will say, I don’t tip every time I go out, but when the waiter/waitress does exceptionally well, I will tip well.